The South Atlantic Medal Association (1982)

2007 Remembrance and Pilgrimage Planning Pages

UNIT NOTICEBOARD A Service of Remembrance at the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, Pangbourne will be held on Thursday 14th June. More details here. A charity Rugby match is being held at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday 16th June 2007, to raise funds for the welfare of our veterans. Visit the web site for details, including some of the famous names involved. See: www.falklandstaskforcerugby.co.uk The HMS FEARLESS website is dedicated to getting together as many Fearless crew as possible for the 2007 25th anniversary re-union. See: www.hmsfearless.com 63 Sqn, RAF Regiment are planning a reunion some time during 2007, probably based at the Union Jack Club in London. More details here. Parade of Standards, Portsmouth. At RN Falklands War Memorial at Sally Port, Old Portsmouth, on Sunday 10rd June 2007, with Service of Remembrance attended by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth. More details here. HMS Sultan - 25th Anniversary Commemoration Dinner. Friday 25th May. Main Hangar, HMS Sultan, Gosport. To raise funds for the FVF's "Project Stanley". See www.fvf.org.uk. GOSPORT - Commemoration Concert and Parade. Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd June 2007. Concert and Parade along the lines of the 15th and 20th Events, exact details will be posted here and on the Bulletin Board as they become known. This planning will be coordinated between the FVF, SAMA 82 2007 Events Sub Committee, and Gosport Borough Council. See www.fvf.org.uk. RAF Waddington will be the venue for a drumhead service in July 2007, coinciding with the Station's open day. Volunteers are needed now to help plan this tri-service event, please contact Peter Cobbs. A painting of XM607 which is now parked at Waddington and which participated in the Black Buck raids has been commissioned and will be unveiled at the 2006 AGM in Blackpool. There will be 255 prints available. More details here. XM607 at Waddington showing flashes for three bombing missions SAMA Wales plan to have a Welsh National Monument built in time to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict. If all goes well the timing would be end of August or early September 2007. Keep up to date on: More details on their web site. SAMA South East are holding a 25th Anniversary Black Tie Dinner at Wellshurst Golf and Country club, 12 miles north of Eastbourne on 25th May. More details here. Yeovilton International Air Day is celebrating the 25th anniversary with Falklands-era aricraft and offering SAMA members a discount on admission. At the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton on Saturday 7th July 2007. More details on their web site. Royal British Legion. RBL Cornwall County has been nominated as the South West's major Legion sponsor of the following commemorations in 2007: 50th Anniversary of the Korean War, 40th Anniversary of the withdrawal of British forces from Aden and the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands campaign. There is an open invitation to all SAMA members for Sunday, 3rd June 2007. More details here. Imperial War Museum Falklands Exhibition. Featuring material on public display for the first time, the exhibition tells the story of the war through the unique first-hand accounts and personal memorabilia of those involved. More details here. Worcester. 25th Anniversary Task Force Parade, Saturday October 27th 2007. Band of Royal Marines, Corp of Drums, Fanfare Trumpeters. More details here.

ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE In light of recent enquiries regarding the arrangements for the 2007 anniversary by members of SAMA, pleased be advised of the following: We are currently in discussions with government departments regarding the arrangements and the form that the commemorations will take and these negotiations are ongoing. At present a date has been confirmed, Sunday 17th June, for a parade in London, sponsored by the MoD, and for a service at the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne College on Thursday 14th June, for details please click here. There is a steering group in place who have a general brief; they will communicate more details of the plans as they evolve. The commemorations will take place throughout the time scale of the conflict and of course on Remembrance Sunday. It is also important to be aware that this is a commemoration for ALL Falkland Veterans, their families and the families of those that did not return, and especially the Islanders. SAMA is involved as part of the steering group along with the Falklands Families Association, Pangbourne College, and the Falkland Islanders. There is a 2007 Committee in being in the Falkland Islands who are closely linked through the Falkland Islands Government Office in London and who will be responsible for the commemorations in the Islands. Going forward there is work to be done in a vast array of areas, should anyone feel that they have both the skills and time available to assist then please make themselves known. We welcome input from all veterans of 1982 and those associated with veterans who may have other relevant skills. Those members who have ideas for local commemorations, please communicate with your area representatives so that the central steering group can assist if possible. The Falklands War commemorations will be high profile and of course our fallen comrades will be at the forefront of our minds, however we must also keep in mind the ongoing veterans issues particularly PTSD and the homelessness problem. One of our main problems with keeping members informed as to the arrangements is cost. A mailing to all members has a cost of around £900 just in postage. In an effort to reduce this we would like to communicate wherever possible via email. It would be very helpful if you could confirm your email details below. Name: E-mail: SAMA Member: Membership Number:

GENERAL NOTICES Essential web sites SAMA Pilgrimage 25th Anniversary Events MoD Veterans Agency 17 June 2007. The 25th anniversary of the Falklands Campaign will be commemorated across 8,000 miles and five time zones, in London and the Falkland Islands on 17 June 2007. This will be a high impact visual event on Horse Guards Parade and will include a traditional “Drumhead” ceremony. This will be followed by a parade of veterans and their modern day service counterparts up The Mall to Buckingham Palace to witness a fly past of aircraft from the Falklands era as well as some of those flown by the same squadrons today. Central to the event will be the personal recollections of veterans and Islanders as they tell their stories in their own words. Senior members of the Royal Family will attend, and it will be covered live by the BBC. 17 June 2007. Falkland Veterans Reception, St James Park, London at 5:30pm on 17th June 2007. Hosted by SAMA(82). More here. Anniversary Book of Photographs. The book will be published with the support of SAMA82 with a percentage of any money made donated to SAMA82. Publication imminent. Greetings Card. Nicci Pugh, of the Pilgrimage Support Team, has produced an excellent greetings card featuring HM Hospital Ship Uganda, selling at £3 a pack with a contribution to SAMA. More here. Museum Appeal. The Falkland Islands Museum, Stanley, is holding a special exhibition to mark the 25th anniversary of the liberation. They are desperately in need of artifacts and material from veterans. If you have anything you would like to lend, or even copies of photos, letters etc, please contact: Leona Roberts by telephone (500) 27428 or fax (500) 22727.